Re: Machining / Lathe questions

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Peter Lawrence by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Peter.Lawrence-at-Sun.COM>

Dan,
     good used 12"x36" lathes can be found for maybe between 500 ~ 1500,
and if you want a garage workshop will be a good deal. If you are willing
to look longer and harder you might get the price below 500, then you
have to know what you are looking for and know if you can handle a machine
that has significant wear and how to deal with it (it is possible, but
it is part of the "art" of machining).

I wanted an indoor workshop, and I like german workmanship, so I paid
top dollar for a brand new smaller machine, a 7"x16" Prazi. I'm extremely
pleased with it.

Check out grizzley-dot-com for prices on new imported (asian) lathes
	7"x12"	$500
	9"x19"	$800	<-- possibly a good indoor mini-lathe
	11"x26"	$1200
	12"x37"	$1900	<-- possibly a good garage machine

If you do get a lathe and you really get into machining, you will probably
eventually want a mill also. Consider what your space situation is and what
size of mill will match the type of things you can do with your lathe. I
have two mills, the second one is in the garage, and am considering a third
which will be CNC...

Consider subscribing to the Home Shop Machinist magazine to get familiar
with what is available (ads for Prazi, Grizzley, etc), and articles on how to
use these machines.

I am seriously into this hobby, and will be glad to continue the discussion
off the tesla list if you want.

-Pete Lawrence.




 >
 >Original poster: "Mccauley, Daniel H by way of Terry Fritz
<teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <daniel.h.mccauley-at-lmco-dot-com>
 >
 >
 >Just a few questions regarding machining . . .
 >
 >1.  My first question is that I want to drill and tap a large number of 1"
 >steel spheres which I am going to using as
 >corona balls (spark gaps actually).  Anyone have suggestions on how to clamp
 >these spheres properly.  I guess the proper way to do this to ensure proper
 >centering would be to use a lathe (see next question), but precision isn't a
 >hard requirement as they are only going to be used for spark gap balls.  I
 >was thinking maybe taking some material putting perpindicular V-Slots and
 >having the sphere rest in the intersection point.
 >
 >2.  Secondly, I'm finding that lathe work is becoming a requirement on
 >almost all my new tesla and high voltage projects (as well as others) and
 >I'm finding the very high prices of out-of-house machining to be very
 >restrictive so I think its in my best interest to invest in a lathe and
 >start practicing.  Are there any lathes out there for under $500.00 that
 >would be okay for practicing and would be tabletop sized (not a huge floor
 >mounted lathe)???
 >
 >Any help appreciated.  Thanks.
 >
 >The Captain
 >
 >